70 South African White Rhinos Relocated to Rwanda
Rwanda said on Tuesday that 70 white rhinos had been successfully relocated to the Great Lakes nation after a two-day journey of some 3,000 kilometers (over 1,800 miles) from South Africa.
It was the largest ever relocation of rhinos, which can weigh up to two tons, Rwandan officials said.
Once abundant across sub-Saharan Africa, rhino numbers have dramatically fallen due to hunting by European colonizers and large-scale poaching.
The animals were transported in two loads of 35 -- first aboard a Boeing 747, then by road -- from South Africa's Munywana Conservancy to Akagera National Park in Rwanda, or about 3,000 kilometers as the crow flies, according to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
A "dedicated veterinary team will closely monitor their health and behavior for several weeks to ensure proper adaptation to their new environment and management of any stress associated with the move", it said in a statement.
The move was part of African Parks' Rhino Rewild Initiative, supported by The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and aims to support population growth and secure a new breeding stronghold in Rwanda.
According to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), rhino poaching in Africa rose by four percent from 2022 to 2023, with at least 586 rhinos poached in 2023.
The southern white rhino, one of two subspecies, is now listed as "near threatened", with roughly 17,000 individuals remaining, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The northern white rhino has all but vanished, with only two females left alive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
70 South African White Rhinos Relocated to Rwanda
Rwanda said on Tuesday that 70 white rhinos had been successfully relocated to the Great Lakes nation after a two-day journey of some 3,000 kilometers (over 1,800 miles) from South Africa. It was the largest ever relocation of rhinos, which can weigh up to two tons, Rwandan officials said. Once abundant across sub-Saharan Africa, rhino numbers have dramatically fallen due to hunting by European colonizers and large-scale poaching. The animals were transported in two loads of 35 -- first aboard a Boeing 747, then by road -- from South Africa's Munywana Conservancy to Akagera National Park in Rwanda, or about 3,000 kilometers as the crow flies, according to the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). A "dedicated veterinary team will closely monitor their health and behavior for several weeks to ensure proper adaptation to their new environment and management of any stress associated with the move", it said in a statement. The move was part of African Parks' Rhino Rewild Initiative, supported by The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and aims to support population growth and secure a new breeding stronghold in Rwanda. According to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), rhino poaching in Africa rose by four percent from 2022 to 2023, with at least 586 rhinos poached in 2023. The southern white rhino, one of two subspecies, is now listed as "near threatened", with roughly 17,000 individuals remaining, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The northern white rhino has all but vanished, with only two females left alive.
Arab News
05-06-2025
- Arab News
Honoring South Africa's Islamic heritage through Hajj
I had the honor of welcoming the first wave of pilgrims from South Africa who entered the Kingdom to embark on the sacred journey of Hajj on April 29. Prior to their departure, as they bade farewell to their families and loved ones, I knew they carried with them an overwhelming realization that this was nothing but an invitation, a privilege, and a blessing bestowed by the Almighty. With that reflection also came the awareness that they are now part of millions from around the world, united in a sacred rite that Prophet Muhammad undertook during his blessed life. For me, the honor of welcoming these pilgrims — and later spending time with them from Madinah to Aziziya (where South African pilgrims reside before the five blessed days), to the camps in Mina, through Muzdalifah, the stoning at the Jamarat, and finally the sanctity and majesty of Arafat — is profound. Profound in the sense that it gives me personal pause to reflect on the gift of Islam that reached the shores of the Cape of Good Hope in the 17th century. This gift was, in and of itself, instrumental in shaping many key developments in South Africa — not least the foundations of a language often assumed to have originated solely with Dutch settlers. In fact, there is ample historical evidence that slaves and political prisoners — most of them Muslim and brought by the Dutch from the Malay Archipelago — carried with them wisdom and knowledge. Through this knowledge, wisdom, and interaction with local communities and other enslaved peoples, they helped form a patois that would later evolve into what we now formally recognize as Afrikaans, a language widely spoken throughout South Africa and Namibia. Allow me to share a personal anecdote. Around the age of 20, an elder from my community came to test my ability to read fusha Arabic (classical Arabic). I struggled to understand the passage he showed me — until he pointed something out. He told me, in our mother tongue, Afrikaans, that I was reading one of the earliest records of Afrikaans written in Arabic script (similar documents are preserved in archives to this day). That moment left an indelible mark on me. It reminded me of how the Hijrah of the Prophet shaped not only the Arab world but also global communities as far as the southernmost tip of Africa. The point is that the beauty of South Africa's diversity is well known — and hard-won. Many fought for that diversity to be embedded in the DNA of what shapes our country today. As a descendant of those who, through Islam, helped shape our diverse cultural landscape, I am deeply humbled to represent my country in welcoming our pilgrims to Saudi Arabia — and to spend time with them during this sacred journey. On behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the government of South Africa, and Ambassador Mogobo David Magabe, I wish to acknowledge the thoughtful measures taken by Saudi Arabia to ensure a spiritually uplifting and logistically smooth Hajj. We further commend the Kingdom for its continued commitment to serving the global Muslim community. The operational role entrusted to Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah is already bringing ease and reassurance to pilgrims, even before they reach Mina. Equally important is the vital role played by all those working behind the scenes to support the South African pilgrim experience, including community-based organizations such as the South African Hajj and Umrah Council, and the Mashaariq in Saudi Arabia. In conversations with South Africans already in the Kingdom, it is clear that initiatives such as early restrictions on entry into Makkah and Madinah are easing pressure and enhancing the journey in meaningful ways. It is equally important for South African pilgrims to remember that in every action — whether in prayer, in queues, in transport, or in how we treat others — we represent our country. Let our conduct reflect the spirit of ubuntu, the belief that our humanity is bound to one another, and be worthy of the welcoming and tolerant identity that so many fought for us to uphold and protect. To all the pilgrims, and especially those whom I have yet to meet in person, I wish you a Hajj Maqbool and Hajj Mabroor, Insha'Allah. • Imran Simmins is the acting consul general for the South African Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Asharq Al-Awsat
03-06-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
NEOM Nature Reserve Reintroduces Six Animal Species
As part of its bold rewilding strategy, NEOM has reintroduced more than 1,100 animals across six species to its expansive Nature Reserve—an important milestone in its broader mission to restore the region's natural balance. With 95% of the region's land preserved for nature, NEOM is working to rebuild self-sustaining ecosystems through habitat rehabilitation, species recovery, and cutting-edge ecological monitoring. According to NEOM, when the Arabian Oryx was first reintroduced into the Nature Reserve in December 2022, it marked a milestone occasion, signifying the first time the animal had walked the sands of north-western Saudi Arabia for nearly 100 years, SPA reported. In the early 1970s, the Oryx was extinct in the wild due to hunting and poaching, but conservation efforts across the region have seen its numbers swell in recent years, with more than 208 now calling NEOM home. Perfectly adapted to the region's desert conditions, its white coat reflects the sun, while its complex nasal system cools the air it breathes and conserves water by recycling moisture as it exhales. Another member of the Bovidae family, Arabian Sand Gazelles are petite, graceful animals that typically reside in sand dunes and coastal flats across the Arabian Peninsula. Gazelles are swift creatures, clocking speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour in short bursts. They are herbivores, and while NEOM's regreening initiative continues to develop – with 4.7 million trees, shrubs, and grasses planted to date – the 530 Arabian Sand Gazelles currently residing in the reserve benefit from the natural vegetation that has returned to the area, following the removal of heavy livestock grazing. NEOM is also home to 223 Arabian Gazelles, which are typically darker in color and harder to find, preferring to reside in foothills and rugged mountain terrain. Desert-dwelling wild goats can be found in NEOM's rocky, mountainous terrain, and are typically recognized by their impressive arched horns. Males have backward-arched horns that can reach up to one meter in length, while females have much shorter horns and are lighter in color. They are incredible climbers and have hooves with rubbery soles to act as suction cups on hard surfaces, aiding them in navigating steep cliffs to avoid predators, including wolves. NEOM has successfully reintroduced 53 Nubian Ibex to the reserve, adding to the population of several wild Ibex who have naturally returned to the area and are often caught on camera as part of NEOM's monitoring program. The red-necked ostrich, the largest and fastest living bird on earth, can stand up to 2.7 meters tall and weigh more than 150 kilograms. Their eggs are the largest of any living animal, measuring up to 15 centimeters long and up to 1.4 kilograms in weight. The bird gets its namesake from the fact that males have a reddish hue on their neck, especially in breeding season, when they perform an elaborate courtship display to attract females. Currently, 27 chicks have been raised in NEOM Nature Reserve, which are well adapted to the region's climate and feed on seeds, grass, leaves, and occasionally small insects or animals. Their strong legs allow them to run up to 70 kilometers per hour and, despite their size, red-necked ostriches are flightless. Furthermore, the Lanner Falcon, last spotted in the wild in Saudi Arabia more than four decades ago, was reintroduced to NEOM Nature Reserve earlier this year in a momentous occasion. Known for its speed and agility, the Lanner Falcon can dive at speeds of more than 320 kilometers per hour. It has a striking appearance, with dark markings on its chest and belly, and a distinctive black moustache mark across its white face. The release of Lanner Falcons into Bajdah at NEOM Nature Reserve forms part of a rewilding partnership between NEOM and the Saudi Falcon Club (SFC), which aims to reintroduce native falcon species within the Kingdom.
